Supporting Each Other in Times of Need

I hope this newsletter finds you well and refreshed in whichever way the recent holiday period worked for you. Over the past weeks, while we have witnessed some tragic stories in our news headlines, I continue to be in awe of the displays of assistance, empathy, support and compassion among people. The invaluable role of our first responders, who bravely step forward in the face of adversity is inspiring. Their dedication and selflessness serve as guiding beacons of hope in challenging times. I believe it is ever more crucial to continue to nurture a culture of empathy and solidarity in our community.

Just recently, as one of our junior school families arrived at the Garnsey campus for a tour, a heart-warming incident unfolded. A senior school student encountered an unfortunate accident on her bike and, without a moment's hesitation, members of this family rushed to her aid. Their swift action, care, and concern exemplify the essence of what it means to be part of our school family.

As educators and parents, we have a profound responsibility to instil these values in our children. We must empower them to become the first responders in their own right, equipped with a readiness to lend a helping hand. It is through nurturing these qualities that we can foster a generation of individuals who are not only academically accomplished but also socially conscious and proactive in serving others.

In our School Community, there are countless opportunities for our students to embody the spirit of service. Whether it's through volunteering initiatives, peer support programs, or simply extending a gesture of kindness to those in need, each act contributes to the fabric of our collective empathy, where reaching out to one another in times of need is second nature.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’.
– Martin Luther King Jr.

Reflecting the passion and eagerness of our students, Garnsey Campus kicks off the term with our senior production of ‘Catch Me If You Can’. Having started auditions and rehearsals in Term 4 of last year, our production crew and staff have since dedicated evenings and weekends to produce this wonderful show. Students in Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8 were lucky enough to be the audience for the production preview on Wednesday. Not only did the students get to enjoy the first experience of the show, but this also served as an important step in the transition process of our current Year 6 students as they prepare for life at Garnsey next year. Congratulations and thanks are to be extended to all students and staff who have been involved in ‘Catch Me If You Can’ and we extend that thanks to the parents and families of these students who have supported them throughout this journey.

Transition remains an important experience for our Year 6 students. On Wednesday April 16 we hosted our first ever transitional ‘Tour & Tea’ event for our Year 6 students and families from our Bairnsdale Campus. This was an opportunity for those students and families to learn more about Garnsey Campus, the subjects and programs we offer and to meet some of our amazing teachers. It also provided us with a unique opportunity to really connect with these students and understand more about who they are as individuals and what they hope to achieve in the future. We look forward to welcoming our Year 6 students and families from St Anne’s later this term.

In Week 2, we will host our first ever Grandparent’s Day service as part of our Centenary calendar of events. We are very much looking forward to welcoming grandparents and special friends to the campus to join with our students and staff as we acknowledge our School’s history and as we present the new ‘Generations Badge’, which will be given to all students who have a parent or grandparent who also attended our school.

On Wednesday April 24 we will also be hosting our ANZAC Day service where will be acknowledging the former men and women who served our country so bravely. Though we continue to move forward as a country, we value the importance of reflection, and remembering the significant historical events that have shaped our country.

Our Year 9 students are only a few weeks away from one of the most significant experiences a student has at Gippsland Grammar … the Year 9 Melbourne Experience. Ms Goggin and our Year 9 team have been supporting students in preparing for two weeks in Melbourne, where they will learn more about the history and culture of Melbourne. Furthermore, they will learn valuable life skills including increased independence, responsibility, organisation, time management and self-regulation. The Year 9 trip remains a key opportunity for our students, providing them with a readiness for the future.

In addition to the activities mentioned above, Garnsey Campus will host a number of other events this term including (but not limited to) the Year 8 Outdoor Education Camp, Garnsey Soiree and Bands Concert, Year 10 and Year 11 Examinations, a lockdown evacuation drill and our House Cross Country. Regardless of your year level, there are always opportunities for engagement and integration at Garnsey Campus.

Finally, I wanted to share with you that Gippsland Grammar has partnered with other local schools and the Wellington Shire Council to be part of Live4Life. This important community initiative is bringing together rural and regional communities to improve youth mental health and wellbeing. Live4Life communities deliver Teen and accredited Youth Mental Health First Aid training in schools and the wider community, create local partnerships to lead conversations about mental health that reduce stigma, and promote young leaders as mental health ambassadors. We have confirmed six students from Year 9 who have formed our school’s ‘Crew’ and following their training over the coming weeks, will be responsible for driving teen mental health strategies within the school.

Congratulations to Year 12 student Ella Gerrand and Year 11 Scarlett Tavasci who were selected by Rowing Victoria in this year's 'Rowing Pathway State Team and competed in the Interstate Pathways Regatta in Sydney last week. Excitingly, Old Scholar Ailish McGrath (Class of 2019) was the team coach!

The Gippsland Grammar Foundation will host a Giving Week next week to raise funds for our School’s Building Fund. Our School relies on the Foundation – our fundraising arm – to raise funds for capital projects which would otherwise be impossible. Recent initiatives supported by the Foundation include the Garnsey Art & Design Centre, the St Anne’s Years 3/4 Learning Centre and the Bairnsdale Campus basketball roof structure. The current fundraising focus is for the new St Anne’s ‘early years zone’, which includes the ELC and Foundation classrooms, as well as other building improvements at our Bairnsdale and Garnsey campuses.

Giving Week donation fliers will be available at each of our Grandparents Day events next week or donations can be made directly via our website at: www.gippslandgrammar.au/community/foundation

Next week we celebrate our grandparents and special friends at events at each of our campuses as part of our Grandparents’ Week celebrations. And in honour of our Centenary year, these occasions will be when we present students whose parents or grandparents (or even great-grandparents) with our new ‘Generations Badge’. This badge will be given to each current student and their Old Scholar family member who also attended our school. To ensure our records are as accurate as possible, we are asking families to let us know of any grandparent or great-grandparent connection, so please email Sarah Guinness at development@gippslandgrammar.au if you have a Generations connection you wish to be recognised in this way. Our most recent edition of Veritas included a list which showed which family connections we have already confirmed.

Our two Centenary books have been hugely popular since they were launched over our Centenary weekend in Term 1. ‘Memories, stories from 100 years of Gippsland Grammar’ by Ann Andrew is a wonderful compilation of 100 stories from students from our earliest years until today; while its companion publication ‘Wheelbarrow’s Birthday’ is a children’s book that reimagines 12 of those stories in a form more suitable for our current youngest students. Both books will be available at our Grandparents’ Day events or online here: https://gippslandgrammar.mysho...